A woman who was stopped by police because her car had no lights on was later found to have nearly four times the limit of a crack cocaine metabolite in her system.
Louise Slater, 38, was pulled over by officers on Aberdeen’s Beach Esplanade after officers spotted her vehicle weaving across the road and veering into the oncoming lane.
She also hadn’t turned on the headlights, despite it being dark.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard when stopped and blood tested, Slater was found to have a metabolite of cocaine in her system.
Her solicitor confirmed that Slater had taken crack cocaine earlier in the day and had fallen back into drug use.
Driver had slurred speech and was unsteady
Fiscal depute Emma Petersen told the court that at around 11.20pm on May 17 last year constables on mobile patrol “observed that the accused driving with no lights on.”
“It was dark”, Ms Petersen said. “Officers also described her manner of driving as erratic with an inconsistent speed.
“The vehicle was swerving in the road into the opposing carriageway.”
Slater’s car was seen driving down Grampian Road and Beach Esplanade before being stopped by police.
Ms Petersen told the court that officers noted that Slater had “slurred speech” and was “unsteady on her feet” when asked to exit her vehicle.
When tested, Slater’s blood was also found to contain 191 microgrammes of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in her blood. The legal limit is 50mcg per litre.
Slater pleaded guilty to one charge of driving without due care or attention with her headlights off and a further charge of driving with an excessive level of benzoylecgonine in her system.
‘In no way should she have been driving’
Defence solicitor Paul Barnett told the court that his client has had problems with substance misuse “over the years”.
“She had relapsed at the time as she was on a low ebb and she had taken some crack cocaine,” he said.
“Ms Slater accepts that in no way should she have been driving.”
Sheriff Andrew Miller told Slater: “You have a limited record for prior convictions and I also have regard for the fact that you have pleaded guilty at an early stage.
“Nonetheless these are serious offences.”
Sheriff Miller disqualified Slater, of Leadside Road, Aberdeen, from driving for 16 months and fined her £400.
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